Check-out counter



Aug. 14, 1951 J. R. EDWARDS CHECK-OUT COUNTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1949 INVENTOR. d m? wowbfl WM Affa it H 15 Aug. 14,195! EDWARDS 2,564,642,

CHECK-OUT COUNTER 4 Filed Jan. 15, 1949 KSheet's-Sheat '2 275/4222? i m \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\-\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\vuww\\mxm A To KNEYS J. R. EDWARDS CHECK-OUT COUNTER Aug. 14, 1951 3 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Jan. 13, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 14, 1951 CHECK-OUT COUNTER James Roy Edwards, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Kroger Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application January 13, 1949, Serial No. 70,761

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to check-out counters for supermarkets and other types of chain grocery stores, and is particularly concerned with an improved rack construction which facilitates the presorting of grocery items on the check-out counter by the customer, and greatly increases the speed and efficiency of the check- 1 out operation by the cashier.

In United States Patent No. 2,242,408 to E. D. Turnham, a cashiers counter for a chain grocery store is disclosed and claimed, in which a three sided open-bottomed rack is utilized to slide the grocery items to be checked out from a position remote from the cashier to a position directly in front of the cashier, the rack being then moved rearwardly to its original position for use by the succeeding customer. This invention is, in efiect, a specific improvement over the invention disclosed in the aforesaidTurnham patent, in that it contemplates the use of a rack of a configuration generally similar to that which Turnham discloses as his preferred embodiment. However, the present invention is a distinct advance over that of Turnham in that the merchandise is delivered by the rack to the cashier in accurate presorted condition, thereby facilitating the work of the cashier in checking and totalling the cost of the various items and greatly expediting the passage of customers before the check-out counter.

This whole problem of checking out a selfservice grocery store has been a very difllcult one for the store owners to solve, and it may fairly be said to be the bottleneck of the entire operation in a self-service store. Many different types of systems and mechanical aids have been attempted, and in most cases abandoned. The system and structure described in the Turnham patent unquestionably stands out as the most effective solution of the problem which has yet been provided, but even under the most favorable conditions, the construction of Turnham does not speed up the check out operation by more than 25%.

One of the principal objections to using Turnhams structure is that the various articles of merchandise are brought to a position in front of the cashier in a very mixed up or jumbled condition. To illustrate, there are many instances in which grocery stores encourage the purchase of larger quantities of canned goods or the like by offering a number of cans for a lump price, such as three cans for a quarter. Assuming a customer has purchased merchandise in this way and deposited the three cans on the counter, along with a number of other items, the cans will invariably become separated when pushed by the rack to a position in front of the cashier, and the cashier will be required to segregate them in order to compute the charges. Likewise, there are many states in which certain grocery items-are subject to a sales tax, whereas others are not, and this segregation operation must be performed by the cashier from the quantity of articles so that the tax due can be properly determined. Another example of the value of segregating or presorting various types of articles arises from the fact that certain types of items, such as meats or canned goods, usually have the price indicated at the same identical point, so that if the items are segregated, the cashier can compute totals much more quickly than if the items are taken one by one in a haphazard way.

In structures of the type of the Turnham patent, an effort has been made to provide for a partial presorting of items by indicia on the sides of the rack designed to encourage the customer to presort upon depositing his purchases on the counter. These eflorts have not been particularly successful because, in the first place, the mere use of indicia does not provide a sufficient urge to presort by the great majority of customers, and, in the second place, even if the items are presorted originally, the presorting is substantially nullified by the time the rack has brought the articles to a position in front of the cashier.

With a view to correcting the difficulties which have just been described in some detail, the principal objectof the invention has been to provide a movable rack for a check-out counter that is divided into compartments which serve as inducement to a customer to place his purchases in the rack in presorted arrangement.

It has been another object of the invention that the articles presorted in the rack be deposited in this arrangement when the rack is moved to aposition in front of the cashier or checker at the check-out station, and further, that the rack be returnable to a position for receiving the articles of the next succeeding customer without disturbing the arrangement of the articles so deposited.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rack is divided into compartments by gates which are pivotally mounted on posts journalled in the side walls of the rack. It is preferred that the different compartments in the racks be painted in contrasting colors to clearly indicate the divisions. As a further inducement to the customer to presort his purchases, a panel 'is provided along a side wall of the rack. This panel also may be painted in contrasting colors corresponding to the colors of the divisions in the rack and carry indicia referring to the different types of articles that are to be placed in the difierent compartments. It has been found that a customer, in order to speed up his own checking operation, while standing next in line to the checker, will of his own volition presort his articles if provision is made. With the present invention, the divisions in the rack invite this presortment on the part of the customer.

Other-objects and advantagesof the invention will be more fully set forth in the detailed description of the drawings which follows.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view showing the rack of this invention in place atop a check-out counter.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view ;of the rack with certain portions broken away 'to show the details of construction.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 33, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 44, Figure 2.

Figure 5 .is across-sectional view taken on line .5-5 of Figure .1.

Figure 6 is a :fragmentary elevational view showing -a handle for the rack.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the details .of theactuating mechanism for the gates.

Figure 8 is a side elevational viewshowing one .of the rollers for the rack.

Eigure9 is across-sectional view taken on line .99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view through-one of the gate posts showing amodified actuating means.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line H--H of Figure 10.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views showing the rack-on a check-out counter .in various positions during the operation of the rack.

A d now referring to the drawings, attention is directed to Figure 12 which shows therackof this invention in theeenvironmentin which it has been designed for use. A-check-out counter indicated generally ,at8 includes a top 9 having-guide rails .M-.l 0 extending longitudinally along the edges thereof and an abutment rail ll extending along one end thereof. As shown in the drawing, customers approach the counter from the left and pass in front .of it to a position opposite a cash register indicated generally at l2. Achecker for totalling purchases usually stands in the general area indicated by 13.

The slidable rack of this invention is shown generally at I 4. It is mounted on top .of the .check-out counter between the guide rails ill-l 0 :and adapted to be slid longitudinally of the counter. The rack is generally U-shaped, consisting of side walls l5 and 1.6 and an end wall H. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the area inside of the rack is divided into three compartments l-8, l9 and 20 by two pairs of gates 2|. This number is not critical, more or less may .be utilized depending on the requirements -;of a user. The members comprising each pair of gates swing from opposite side walls into a line across the space inside the rack. A space, at 22, is provided between the inner ends of the gates when they are in the closed position. It has been found that this space 22 facilitates operation of the gates during movement of the rack.

The gates are pivotally mounted on vertical posts 23 which are journalled in niches or vertical slots 24 in the inner faces of the side walls 15 and I6. Each niche 24 is generally U-s'haped in cross section (see Figure 4). The gates may :be fabricated from plywood or fiber, but, in the embodiment shown here, thin metal plates are used and these plates attached to the posts 23 by having the inner ends of the gates wrapped around the posts (Figure 4) and welded as at 25. It will be noted that when the gates are closed, each gate abuts a shoulder .28 provided by the U -shaped-crosssectionof the niche. The shoulder retains the :gate inits right angular position with reference to the side wall. When the gates are swung open, that is, as shown by the arrow and dot-dash lines 28 in Figure 4, the gates lie parallel and in contact with the side walls of the rack.

Near the lower ends thereof each post is necked in as at 30 to provide a mounting for a spur gear 3i. The gear may be machined from the material of the post or may be a separate element. In the latter instance, the post and gear are keyed together. Journal pins 3232 extend axially from the respective upper and lower ends of the posts and arejournalledin bearing .plates 33-33 which are seated in the respective upper and lower edges .of the side walls as at 34. The gears 3| of the respective posts are adapted to .be meshed with gear teeth .35 which are cut in the face of longitudinally disposed bar members 3636 which are slidably mounted in longitudinal slots 31 in the respective side walls. Cover plates 38-38 .are provided for the slots to hold the bars36 in place. These cover plates 38 are recessed in the outer faces .of the side walls of the rack so as to present a fiush surface for engaging the guide rails 15 and IS.

The ends 3939 of the longitudinal bars are adapted to abut the rail II on the counter top. It will be noted that as the bars are moved longitudinally with respect to the rack, the gears 3| are revolved for swinging the gates.

:Referring to Figure3 in which the edges of bars 36--35 have just engaged the abutment vrail, it will be noted that further movement .of the .rack will rotate gears 3| and swing the gates from a position lying against the inner faces of the side walls to positions in which the gates extend at rig-ht angles from the side walls, that is, in a closed position as shown in Figure .1. In this position, all of the gates are closed defining the three compartments l8, l9, and .20.

To cushion the engagement of the rack with the abutment rail H, rubber bumpers I] are provided-on the inner face of the abutment rail.

When the movement of the rack is reversed from that described above, springs 40-40 seated the slots 3l--31 under compression at the inner ends of the longitudinal bars 35-33 tend to :drive the bars into positions where the ends 39-39 again protrude from the face of the end wall II. This movement would normally open the gates. However, these springs are fairly weak ones and serve only to urge the rack bars to the extended position. Any resistance to the swinging open of the gates, such as might be afforded by articles in the compartments, holds the gates in the closed position.

In order that the rack be moved easily, four rollers shown at 45 are mounted in the bottom edges of the two side walls [5 and I6. These rollers are journalled U-shaped brackets 46 which are mounted in niches 41 cut into the bot tom edges of the side rails near the respective ends. The bottom portion of each of the U-shaped brackets is cut out centrally as at 48 to permit the surface of the roller to extend below the bracket for contacting the top 'of the counter 9. The brackets may be held in place by pairs of screws 50.

Near the end of the side wall I5 of the rack. adjacent the checker, a vertical slot 5| is out in the side wall defining a handle 52. A latch 53 is provided for locking the rack in a position in which it rests against the bumpers 4l- -4l on the abutment strip H. The latch comprises a pivotally mounted ballcrank member including a horizontal arm 54 and a vertically disposed arm 55. A spring 56 seated on a small angle bracket 57 secured to the side wall is under compression urging the horizontal member of the ballcrank upward. The other end 55 of the ballcrank member is adapted to engage a detent 58, fastened on the top of the guide rail 19 as shown in Figure 6. A stop pin 60 is provided for the latch.

It may be seen that when the handle 52 is grasped, the horizontal member 54 of the latch 53 is engaged by the hand of the checker, thus unlatching the member 55 from engagement with the detent 58. The slight rearward movement of the rack that is necessary to complete this disengagement is afforded by the resiliency of the bumper members 4| between the abutment plate II and the end wall ll of the rack. When the rack is so latched, the longitudinal bars 36-36 are held in the position for locking the gates 2| in closed position.

Along the top of the side wall I5, which is adjacent the checker, a panel 6| is mounted. This panel is secured to the outside of the side wall I5 (Figure 5) by screws or bolts (not shown). The panel 6| is painted with contrasting colors to define divisions 62, 63 and 64, corresponding to the divisions inside the rack. Suitable indicia may be printed within the divisions of the panels as shown in Figure 2. For example, one of these might be entitled Fresh fruits, another Meats, a third Dairy products and groceries. In the preferred embodiment arrows, shown at 65, are painted on the panel, these arrows extending down onto the side wall Hi to indicate clearly the compartment in which the articles are to be placed. It is preferred that the contrasting colors on the different divisions of the panel be carried into the separate compartments to more clearly define these compartments.

Referring now to the three diagrammatic views I2, l3, and 14, Figure 12 shows the rack in the latched position in which it is at one end of the counter ready to receive the articles of a customer. In this position the gates defining the compartments in the rack are closed. The articles are placed in the respective compartments by the customer and the rack is then ready to be pulled forward to the position as shown in Figure 13. As the rack is brought forward by the checker, it will be noted that the gates are held in the closed position by the articles in the various compartments. moved to a position in front of the checker, in which position the articles are at a point where they may be checked over, the rack is again pushed back to where the end wall rests against the rubber bumpers in the latched position. During this movement, the gates are closed by action of the springs 40-40 and also by engagement with the articles which were brought forward in the rack. During the return of the rack, the gates lie fiat against the inner faces of the side walls as shown by Figure 14. Once the rack is retracted completely, the gates are swung open again by the engagement of the bars 35 with the abutment rail H as described above.

In Figures and 11, a modified actuating mechanism for the gates is disclosed. In this modified form, a coil spring 66 is mounted on each of the vertical posts 23 for urging the gates into the closed position. The spring is mounted in a section 61 of the post that is cut out to a After the rack has been smaller diameter, as shown in Figure 10. One end 53 of the spring is anchored to the side walls; the other end, as at 69, is anchored in the post 23. y utilizing the springs, the longitudinal bar members se-e'e may be omitted. The swinging of the gates is not as positive with the springs as with the bars, but their use results in a substantial saving in the cost of construction. The operation of the rack is substantially the same. However, the latch 53 may be omitted. The springs are comparatively weak, so as to ofier little resistance to the opening of the gates on the return of the rack, in which movement of the gates are forced open by the articles in the rack.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A rack and check-out counter combination comprising; a counter top having guide rails disposed longitudinally at the respective edges and an abutment rail disposed at one end, an open bottom, U-shaped rack including side walls and an end wall, said rack disposed on the counter top with said side walls in sliding engagement with said guide rails, -said rack adapted to be moved longitudinally on the counter top, gates mounted on vertical posts journalled in the side walls of said rack, means for rotating said posts through substantially between points where said gates extend substantially at right angles to said side walls in closed positions and points where said gates extend parallel with said side walls in open positions, said means including bar members slidably disposed in longitudinal slots in the respective side walls, pinions afiixed to the said vertical posts, said bar members having toothed portions engaging said pinions, and said bar members having projections extending beyond said end. wall, said projections being adapted to engage said.abutment means when said rack is moved thereagainst, whereby said bar members are moved relative to said pinions for swinging said gates to the closed position and means for urging said bar members toward positions where said gates tend to open when said rack is moved away from said abutment means.

2. A rack and check-out counter combination including; a counter top having abutment means at one end and guide rails at the respective 1ongitudinal edges thereof, an open-bottom U- shaped rack including side walls and an end wall, said rack disposed on the counter top with the side walls in sliding engagement with the guide rails and adapted to be slid longitudinally of the counter from a point where said end wall is adjacent the abutment means to a point remote therefrom, gate elements pivotally mounted in each of the side walls of said rack, each of said gates cooperating with a corresponding gate in the opposite side wall to define compartments in the rack for the reception of articles when said gates are closed, and means associated with the gates and adapted to cooperate with the abutment means for closing the gates when said rack is moved to a position adjacent the abutment means.

JAMES ROY EDWARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 787,696 Redd Apr. 18, 1905 1,011,321 Clark Dec. 12, 1911 1,863,085 Crawford et al. June 14, 1932 2,242,408 Turnham May 20, 1941 

